The research behind the lamp installation project was twofold. The initial development began as an investigation into the ability of Rhinoceros’s Grasshopper program to dynamically panelize a doubly-curved surface with planar elements to be cut from flat-sheeted material. As the development of the Grasshopper definition moved forward, so did the fabrication of the test object, in this case a sphere.

Several methods for joining were investigated, with the final selection for this prototype being a modified form of a notched joining system. The utility of the definition and the range of connection details will allow the research to be deployed in the future development of small-scale lighting fixtures and furniture pieces constructed from a range of sheet goods.